A Neighbourhood Plan (NP) allows local people to have a say in how and where development should take place in their area. It also gives a chance for residents to identify what they love about the place they live, and those things they wish to protect and enhance.
Local planners at South Norfolk Council, Government inspectors and developers must have regard to the policies in Neighbourhood Plans. Having an NP also means that when development takes place, money in the form of Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is given at a higher rate than normal to the area. Cringleford’s NP was officially adopted in 2014 and since that time it has helped the Parish Council:
· Influence planning applications
· Identify priorities for its work
· Raise over £3m of additional CIL money, which has been spent on several improvements to Cringleford’s community facilities such as The Jubilee Garden and the Jubilee Centre.
However, our plan only runs to 2026, and it is time to take a look at it and see how it can be renewed. Much has happened in the last 10 years that we need to reflect on such as:
· Increases in Cringleford’s population and in housing numbers
· Major changes, still ongoing, in the National Planning system within the UK,including energy efficiencies and biodiversity net gains
· Planning permissions that have been approved but not yet built, e.g. parts of Roundhouse.
If we are to maintain some of the protection our Plan gives us from inappropriate development, it must be bought up to date. We have started the process of reviewing the Plan and it may take 12 to 18 months to complete. You can help shape that process and its outcome by getting involved.
Cringleford Parish Council would like your help refreshing the Neighbourhood Plan. To get the ball rolling we would like you to complete a simple survey.
The consultation will close at midnight on 30th November 2024 after which time no more responses will be considered. Additional paper copies can be picked up from The Willow Centre, Cringleford Stores (Intwood Road), and St Peter’s Church. Paper copies will need to be returned to The Willow Centre upon completion and must be received by the deadline above. Taking part is totally voluntary and anonymous. Please encourage all members of your household to complete the questionnaire individually –we would like responses from under 18-year olds as well as adults. There are no right or wrong answers or opinions. If you don’t want to answer any
of the questions, that’s fine, just move on to the next one. We have formed a Steering Group of Councillors but would like to include residents to help navigate our way through the review. The survey has a link at the end where you can let us know if you would like to be involved. Thank you